Universal's Halloween Horror Nights: Awarding this year's houses

Halloween Horror Nights is now open at Universal Orlando Resort — with more haunted houses and scares than ever before. (Universal Orlando)

Shrieks and screams filled the air as Universal Orlando Resort kicked off its 28th annual Halloween Horror Nights on Sept. 14 at Universal Studios Florida. After experiencing this bodacious bunch of mostly ’80s-themed houses first hand, the two of us (as a HHN veteran and a HHN newbie), decided to give each an award.

A Demogorgon surprises guests at the Stranger Things haunted house during this year's Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. (Universal Orlando)

Best casting: Stranger Things

As a major fan of this popular Netflix show, this was the house I was most excited to see —and I wasn’t disappointed. While the house took some liberties to up the scare ante — Demogorgons are everywhere, so beware — such liberties weren’t taken when it came to casting. Each scareactor looked nearly identical to the show’s actors, so much so that when my group came upon Joyce Byers, my co-worker and I did a double take because she looked so much like Winona Ryder, who plays Byers in the show. And other characters, from Jim Hopper to Eleven, got the same reaction. — Kathleen Christiansen

Best use of a (figurative) kitchen sink: Carnival Graveyard: Rust in Pieces

One could spend hours in this house looking at the thousands of props, mostly related to the amusement-park industry, mostly presented in a sepia tone. It has a leg up, for me, on the run for best original-concept house, and that starts at the elaborate entrance to the “park,” which honestly could be set up as a permanent attraction somewhere at Universal. It’s like they’ve done this before or something. Trespassers — that’s us, you guys — to the allegedly abandoned carnival are not felt to be welcome. And there’s a dramatic clown drop that’s worth lingering for. — Dewayne Bevil

Most Weather Channel: Poltergeist

There are all sorts of inclement conditions raging in the Poltergeist house, starting with a steady rain as we enter the maze that’s gone up inside a sturdy soundstage. Throughout the maze, there’s a strong wind, breezy enough to flap around our lanyards. That all sets the scene for a wonderfully creepy experience that’s sorta built backwards from the 1982 film of the same name. We start with graveyards, caskets and, well, handsy skeletons in a stony set and wind our way back to Carol Ann and company, including that iconic fuzzy television screen. The house is packed with scares and characters that work your nerves even if you’ve not seen the film. (You really should see the film, by the way). At least there’s no hurricane. — DB

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Try to avoid zombies as you make your way through Dead Exposure: Patient Zero at the 2018 Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. (Universal Orlando)

Most likely to give you nightmares: Dead Exposure: Patient Zero

Before entering this zombie-infested house, you get an inoculation that comes at a cost: It will help prevent you from becoming a zombie, but you’ll temporarily go blind. If that doesn’t warn you how terrifying this house is going to be, nothing will. Through the use of strobe lights, the house mimics the loss of sight throughout the entire attraction, ensuring plenty of jumps and screams from guests. — KC

Universal Orlando Resort's 2018 Halloween Horror Nights features the haunted house Trick 'r Treat, based on the movie. (Universal Orlando)

Most accurate to its muse: Trick ’r Treat

Fans of “Trick ’r Treat” will be impressed with Universal Orlando Resort’s interpretation. The house pays tribute to many of the films iconic scenes, from the Halloween School Bus Massacre to the disgusting scene of a diabetic vandal named Charlie throwing up poisoned candy. And the costuming is spot on, from the costumes of the trick or treaters to several Sams enforcing the rules of Halloween throughout the maze. — KC

Most cheesy: Slaughter Sinema

Historically speaking, I’m drawn to humorous haunted houses, and Slaughter Sinema comes closest to filling that bill this year. It’s cheesy by design. Even its name is an eye-rolling pun, for Pete’s sake. Using double features of schlocky B-movies and drive-in theaters, including the popcorn scent, is a nice break from the usual HHN action. — DB

When a haunted house revolves around one single bad guy, there’s the risk of the journey getting monotonous. This was avoided in the H4 house, and a big part of that was the entertaining SWISH/SWASH noise that accompanies each threatening stroke of Michael Meyers’ knife. I don’t think it’s ruining the magic to say that there are multiple scare actors in the role(s) of Meyers, who is on the run after an extended hospitalization. But even though they all look alike, there were multiple shticks and swishes from all corners. The house was well directed and acted out. By the time we got to the end, I was startled merely by the sight of a Michael Meyers silently standing there. — DB

Best use of scent: Scary Tales: Deadly Ever After

Classic fairy tales get a demented twist in this original concept house. And of all of this year’s houses, this one takes the cake when it comes to use of smell. Pleasant aromas of cinnamon and cotton candy waft through the air during the “Hansel and Gretel” scene, almost making me forget the gore before my eyes. And during an underwater scene, I felt as though I was beneath the ocean waves as the scent of salty sea air filled the room. — KC

The Horrors of Blumhouse features scenes from film producer Jason Blum's "The First Purge" and "Happy Death Day." (Universal Orlando)

Must see the original(s) first: The Horrors of Blumhouse

The Horrors of Blumhouse includes two films by Jason Blum: “Happy Death Day” and “The First Purge.” It’s far easier to understand the concept and design for both halves of this house if you’ve seen both movies first, especially when it comes to “Happy Death Day.” Many in my group were confused about the “Happy Death Day” part of the house, wondering why many scenes were repetitious. But if you’ve seen the movie, you know the female protagonist relives her death day, which also happens to be her birthday, until she discovers her murderer. Understanding this can help visitors realize walking through the closet resets each day and that the repetition of music adds to the déjà vu. — KC

In Seeds of Extinction, a meteorite strikes Earth, covering the planet with greenery and wiping out the human race. (Universal Orlando)

The ‘it’s not easy being green’ trophy: Seeds of Extinction

This house’s terrors spawn from a meteorite, but what stands out is the ensuing growth spurt of, well, a vicious vine that takes over Earth. I liked that the grabby greenery, which basically come out of the woodwork, is an unusual scare, not the usual sort of undead or maniacal. I wouldn’t call it a humorous house … but, come on, plants on the prowl is a funny concept. There is some peril: This is the house with the stretch of tilted floor. — DB